Reimagining the American Psycho Remake: Updating a Major Element from the Original Movie
Exploring the necessity of modernizing the American Psycho remake by shifting away from its 1980s setting.
American Psycho's satirical potential with Patrick Bateman makes a remake a viable option, but it should be set in a different era from the 1980s. The previous adaptation, starring Christian Bale, Reese Witherspoon, and others, utilized its pitch-black satire within its setting effectively, creating a stylistic element that feels authentic. However, recreating the exact style of the film in future attempts may become repetitive.
The timeless themes and elements of American Psycho's characters make it an ideal candidate for reimagining in various eras. By exploring different time periods, filmmakers could emphasize what makes Bateman a fundamentally frightening character while using darkly satirical horror to critique the flaws of specific eras. Moving the story to a new time period allows for a fresh approach and the opportunity for filmmakers to create a unique and original interpretation of the central themes of American Psycho.
The American Psycho Remake Shouldn't Be Set In The 1980s
American Psycho Can Work Outside Its Original Setting
Characters from the 2000 horror comedy American Psycho. - American Psycho Can Work Outside Its Original Setting - The American Psycho Remake Shouldn't Be Set In The 1980s
A prospective remake of American Psycho should steer clear of overtly leaning into its iconic 1980s setting. Released in 2000, Mary Harron's American Psycho intricately weaves the story into the culture of 1987. The film portrays the twisted Patrick Bateman against a vivid backdrop of his world, showcasing the extent of his actions in the shallow and luxurious lifestyle surrounding him. Recreating such a specific era would be a daunting challenge for any remake of American Psycho, posing a significant risk for falling into a potential trap.
How The American Psycho Remake Could Work In Different Eras
A more captivating idea would involve setting a remake in a different time period and delving into the overarching themes of American Psycho from a fresh perspective. By doing so, the potential remake could establish its own identity separate from simply retelling Bateman's narrative. This approach could tackle a distinct era of contemporary society and delve into its sinister possibilities. Furthermore, it would offer filmmakers and actors the opportunity to reinterpret the character of Patrick Bateman with a more individualized and innovative approach, rather than merely replicating the style and visuals of the previous Christian Bale-led film.
Why Patrick Bateman Is Scary, No Matter What Era He Lives In
Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) in American Psycho smoking a cigarette after having just killed Paul Allen. - Why Patrick Bateman Is Scary, No Matter What Era He Lives In - How The American Psycho Remake Could Work In Different Eras
American Psycho is a near-perfect dark satire, a pitch-black horror-comedy that puts the viewer right alongside the killer in high society. That's a compelling story and one that the 2000 film plants deeply into 1987. American Psycho was so firmly rooted in the 1980s culture that it'll be hard to recreate it without forcing audiences to draw obvious comparisons. Instead, a more interesting approach would relocate Patrick Batman's story to a different era. Across American history, there are plenty of cultural periods that could well serve the story and themes of American Psycho.
Setting it in the Gilded Age of the 1920s could lean harder into the period-piece aspects. Setting an American Psycho remake in the mid-2000s could fit well into the era, creating a horror-tinted take on The Big Short. Moving Patrick Bateman decades later could be used as a way to satirize wealthy masculinity in a post-CoVid world, reimagining Bateman in an era of the Tech-Bros, the Alt-Right, and the Manosphere. Any of these alternate settings could help an American Psycho remake stand out from the original while retaining the core elements of what makes the story so compelling.
Why American Psycho Is A Timeless Story
A New Take On Patrick Bateman Isn't A Bad Idea — But It Needs To Be Unique
Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. - A New Take On Patrick Bateman Isn't A Bad Idea — But It Needs To Be Unique - Why American Psycho Is A Timeless Story
American Psycho remains a chilling commentary on privilege and its deadly consequences, a theme that continues to resonate in 2024. The horrifying rampage of Patrick Bateman in the film is made even more disturbing by the fact that it unfolds unnoticed by a blissfully unaware society. Living in a world where accountability is non-existent, Bateman is haunted not by his gruesome murders, but by the lack of consequences for his actions. While Christian Bale's portrayal in American Psycho is iconic and unparalleled, attempting to replicate it would only draw unfavorable comparisons. Nevertheless, the character of Patrick Bateman offers great potential for further exploration and adaptation as a terrifying piece of satire.
Placing Bateman in a different setting would emphasize the unsettling nature of the story and the terrifying character of Bateman. The 1980s elements serve as a well-crafted backdrop, enriching Bateman's world and providing a solid foundation for his false persona. Moving the narrative to a different time period could underscore one of Bateman's most chilling traits - his potential to exist in any city, around any corner. This shift could introduce a new perspective to a potential remake of American Psycho, offering a fresh take while honoring the original story's themes.
American Psycho is currently available for streaming on Peacock Premium.
Editor's P/S:
The article makes a compelling case for a remake of American Psycho set in a different era. It argues that the film's timeless themes and characters make it an ideal candidate for reimagining, and that a new setting would allow filmmakers to create a unique and original interpretation of the central themes. I agree with this assessment, as I believe that the film's story and characters are strong enough to transcend their original setting and still be relevant and impactful in a different time period. I am particularly intrigued by the idea of setting a remake in the Gilded Age of the 1920s, as this would allow filmmakers to explore the themes of wealth, privilege, and inequality in a new and interesting way.
Overall, I think the article provides a well-reasoned and thought-provoking argument for a remake of American Psycho set in a different era. I am excited to see what filmmakers would do with this classic story if they were to take it in a new direction.
